Home Forums Explore Media Fiber Arts Stitch in Time November 2022

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  • #1491100
    Debby
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        Boy am I late this month. A week into November already. It happens. To all those going thru the time change in the US, I’m feeling it right there with you.

        Weather has turned to winter. We’ve already had an inch or so a few days ago. It didn’t melt off entirely before we are being hit again this morning. Looks like another inch, maybe more. Autumn didn’t last very long this year. A shame really. Barely got to enjoy the leaves changing color.

        I’m enjoying my embroidery class. However, I am so rusty that I’ll be practicing a bit more before doing the actual piece for the class. My split stitch looks intoxicated. I don’t think I even want to mention my long and short stitches. I used to do this kind of embroidery, just not used in this way, where you are essentially painting and blending colors of thread. That’s what I wanted to learn. But, it seems I need to re-learn the base stitches first. Also, my hands were a lot younger and pain free when I used to do embroidery. Sometimes it’s terrible getting older.

        Debby
        Guide - Fiber Art Forum

        #1491131
        Lena
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            Yes. I thought about starting it a few times but I was either short on time or tired.  The big sorting and packing has started.  We met with the real estate lady who pointed out that our place was too “unique ” !  We are decluttering and packing and sorting.  I have already tackled the kitchen and I am working on the studio.  The place will go on the market after Christmas.  We have until then to streamline the house.

            I should have worked out more this summer!

            Our weather has been just as bad. We are on our 3rd snow event in less then 7 days and today is really cold and blowing.  It would be so much easier if the cold and snow had held off for another week.  We have a lot more then an inch right now and the roads are horrible.

            You will find that the techniques come back quickly but you will have to be more mindful off your body so you don’t over do it.  I find posture and support are so much more important now.

            Currently I am working on a sweater for my sister.  It is made of a chenille yarn, very soft and very annoying to work with.  I am almost finished it.  It will be her birthday gift but it won’t be ready for tomorrow.

            Doll Art by Lena

            #1491155

            Hi There. I’m sinking in a mountain of wool here.

            After a spurge of crocheting teddy bears and other animals, Ruth is feverously crocheting Santa placemats and baubles for table gifts for our Probus Ladies Lunch.

            Doug


            We must leave our mark on this world

            #1491178
            Debby
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                Lena, so is “unique” a good thing or a bad thing in real estate terms? I do not envy you the packing, de-cluttering, and holidays all at once. I wish you lots of patience and energy to get thru it all. Well, happy birthday to your sister. Hope she has a good day. Do show us the sweater when you finish.

                Doug, there are worse things than sinking into a mountain of wool unless you are allergic to it. Ruth is an unstoppable force in crochet. Where are all the teddy bears and other animals going? Or are they now living with you and that’s part of your mountain?

                Still practicing the embroidery. It’s getting there. My hands are remembering what to do.

                Debby
                Guide - Fiber Art Forum

                #1491183

                They are going to a hospital sale Debby. She makes lots for charity and makes a few to order. She also finishes knitting for friends who have got into trouble.

                Doug


                We must leave our mark on this world

                #1491289
                Debby
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                    Doug, the teddies and other critters are so cute. Ruth is a treasure doing all that for charity.

                    Went to the cardiologist yesterday. Didn’t get any stitching done because getting to a specialist is an all day thing due to the distance we have to travel. I’m most upset because basically most of my concerns were dismissed with a everything will be better if you just lose the excess weight. (sigh) Yes, my weight is a concern, but my medical issues will not all magically go away with weight reduction. I hate medical folk who still think like that.

                    Debby
                    Guide - Fiber Art Forum

                    #1491323
                    Lena
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                        Ok let’s try again. Maybe third time lucky.

                        Yes lol “unique ” is like “interesting “.  The house is not a beige box. There is a lot of woodwork in it.

                        Hi Doug,  those are adorable critters. I am sure they will be loved.  My charity group will soon be hanging out the hats and scarves we have been knitting.   It is already bitterly cold here, yesterday was -21c not counting the windchill.

                        I have been working on the sweater.  I am making feathers to decorate it with. I will put a picture in a separate post.

                        Doll Art by Lena

                        #1491367
                        Debby
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                            Lena, I hope the realtor is willing to find the right person to buy your unique home. I personally would be more interested in something unique rather than a beige box. Looking forward to seeing the sweater.

                            I am working on practicing my embroidery stitches using both hands. The non-dominate hand is coming along. Now to not pull the threads so tight. I think the tension in the thread is reflecting my tension trying to get the stitching right. Need to relax a bit. This is supposed to be fun after all.

                            Debby
                            Guide - Fiber Art Forum

                            #1491405
                            Lena
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                                I am not that concerned.  I have sold unique homes before,  you only need one buyer.

                                Tension due to trying too hard is a problem in knitting too. I taught a friend and her tension was so tight she bent the needles. But all she wanted to make was stuffed toys so it didn’t matter.  In knitting it is important to use only the finger and wrist muscles.  If your neck and shoulders feel tight it means you are using the wrong muscles and you need to stop and rest and evaluate your posture.  It is sometimes very hard to change your muscle memory.   I keep pushing the tip of my right hand needle with my left hand index finger,  which hurts. It isn’t needed but I do it automatically for some reason, especially if I am tired.

                                 

                                 

                                Doll Art by Lena

                                #1491412

                                Ruth has finished crocheting her Santa table gifts:

                                Traditionally she gives a small table gift to ladies who attend our Probus dinner.

                                Doug


                                We must leave our mark on this world

                                #1491539
                                Debby
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                                    Lena, best of luck selling the house. It’s amazing the little things we do automatically that aren’t required, yet we have to concentrate to not do them.

                                    Doug, what an amazing array of gifts. Ruth is so gracious to make something for everyone.

                                    I think I may be up to the challenge of the actual embroidery class project now. My stitches aren’t perfect, but I think I’m probably doing well enough to give the project a try. I don’t expect it to be perfect. After all, I’ve never stitched in just this way before.

                                    Debby
                                    Guide - Fiber Art Forum

                                    #1491710
                                    Lena
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                                        Good luck with the embroidery project and don’t forget to have fun with it.

                                        I have been doing more packing.   It is hard because what I am packing now won’t be accessible until summer so I have to think very carefully.  I have packed fancy tea cups, crystal and decorative things.  Paring down the number of things on the shelves.   But now I need to tackle my bedroom and decide what goes away for 7to 8 months and that is a lot of my yarn and books and clothing.   That is not easy.

                                        I undid a chunk of the sweater.  It needed more length in the shoulder yoke.  I had decreased to fast. So I pulled it out to mid armhole section and decreased every four rows instead of every 2 rows and added several inches to the length.   This also made the sleeves fit better. I am now back to the collar section.  I need to knit several more inches to make a generous collar again.  My sister is liking it so far.  She dug into her button collection for it.  It will have alternating silver and gold buttons.  Because it needs ten buttons.

                                        The weather has turned mild and is now up to just below freezing during the day which feels so balmy!

                                        Doll Art by Lena

                                        #1491779
                                        Debby
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                                            Lena, packing is hard at any time. Wishing you the best with having to pack things away for months while you sell the house and move. Have you started looking at housing to buy? So happy to hear your sister is liking her sweater.

                                            I hear you on the weather feeling balmy at just below freezing. When we first moved here that temperature would have seen us in coats and hats, scarves and mittens. Going out a couple of days ago, it was just below freezing and we were wearing hoodies. It just didn’t feel that cold to us anymore.

                                            Yes, have to remember that the embroidery is fun. If I forget my hands tense up because I’m stressing rather than being relaxed and having fun. That’s when it’s time to take a break. Yesterday, I watched the next lesson on bonding the silk fabric to a cotton fabric backing. It was advised to wrap both the inner and outer rings of the embroidery hoop in strips of cotton. So I dug in my stash for some thin muslin to cut into bias strips and wrap the hoop. By the time I got the hoop wrapped I was sneezing. Ended up spending the rest of the day with allergies and not breathing so good. It’s amazing how dusty fabric gets even being stored in boxes with lids. I’m fine this morning ready to carry on.

                                            Debby
                                            Guide - Fiber Art Forum

                                            #1492138
                                            Lena
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                                                Dust!  It is everywhere.  I have been packing up books and things and they are so dusty and the shelves behind the books are coated with it. My nose is drippy . I found going over everything with a damp cloth is best otherwise it end up in the air and makes life worse.  I have packed up a lot of yarn, and most of my summer clothes.  I am going through my closets and cleaning shelves and being ruthless with my clothing and yarn so I have a big bag for the charity shop and a big garbage bag of junk (old shoes, ripped and stained stuff, old handbags, ,most of it is completely worn out and destroyed,  nothing worth recycling) .

                                                I am still working on the sweater.  The finishing details are taking a long boring time.  I started a hat because my car needed a new battery,  went through a drama on Sunday with a dead car at the grocery store. So this morning it was all about sitting around and waiting for the service to be done and that sweater was much to big to haul around.

                                                I went and bought more boxes  after that and the cashier giggled and said “more boxes? Did you finish all the ones from last week?  ”  and we laughed together about getting weight lifting exercise while packing.  It was so sweet.

                                                Doll Art by Lena

                                                #1492201
                                                Debby
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                                                    Lena, oh my yes! Books are so dusty. Are you wearing a mask while you work? Congrats on the clearing and cleaning. Sorry about your car battery. That’s an awful feeling when the car doesn’t work. Glad you were able to get it fixed. True, packing and moving involve all the weight lifting exercises. Sounds like a lovely person.

                                                    The silk-shading embroidery class is going to take a while. I watched the lesson on the first petal for 30+ minutes. A good half of that was sped up as it was a repeat. The woman knew what she was doing and had already embroidered this flower at least once. It’s going to take me hours to do the first petal. It’s ok. It’s just going to take some time. Worked on that for a bit, then decided I needed to do something I already knew how to do.

                                                    When I was in my embroidery supplies box, I found a black-work pattern I bought several years ago that is for making up a needle book, biscornu, and scissor fob. I thought I’d take a look at doing that. It just will take scraps of aida or evenweave to stitch up. But, the design is just a border, it needs something in the middle. I figure monogram. I can’t find a stitched font that I’m happy with. So off I go to the internet to find other black-work designs and fell down that rabbit hole the rest of the day. LOL Never did find a stitched font, but it was fun.

                                                    Debby
                                                    Guide - Fiber Art Forum

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